Corea or Cho-sen: The Land of the Morning Calm

A vivid travel memoir transports listeners to the Korean Peninsula at the close of the 19th century. The author, fresh from a Christmas‑day departure on a modest Japanese steamer, shares candid diary entries that capture the sights, sounds, and fleeting conversations aboard the ship. Early chapters introduce the bustling ports of Fusan and Chemulpo, setting the stage for an immersive exploration of a land just beginning to open to the wider world.

Once ashore, the narrator delves into Korean court life, local customs, and everyday encounters, all illustrated with his own modest sketches that bring the scenes to life. Readers hear detailed descriptions of markets, military drills, and seasonal festivals, filtered through the eyes of a curious outsider granted rare access by high‑ranking officials. The blend of personal anecdote, cultural observation, and on‑the‑spot drawing offers a richly textured portrait of Korea before modern upheavals reshaped its destiny.